Toughest drug-testing plan in place for Sochi

Just try to get away with it. If you're willing to take the risk, you'll pay the price.

International Olympic and anti-doping officials are implementing the toughest drug-testing program in Winter Games history, using intelligence to target athletes and events considered most at risk.

Authorities are focusing their efforts on weeding out dopers through rigorous pre-Games and pre-competition tests. Armed with an improved scientific method that can detect drug use going back months rather than days, the International Olympic Committee will conduct a record number of tests.

Urine and blood samples will be stored for eight years for retroactive testing, providing further deterrence to anyone thinking they can avoid being caught in Sochi.

“If there are any doping cases in Sochi, some of them may be because athletes are being stupid,” IOC medical director Dr. Richard Budgett told the Associated Press.

The IOC plans to carry out 2,453 tests in Sochi, including 1,269 pre-competition controls. That's a 57 percent increase in pre-Games tests from the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

The majority of the 1,184 in-competition tests will be done in sports such as cross-country skiing and biathlon, endurance events with a history of blood doping and EPO use.

Indian athlete has support: India's top competitor at the upcoming Games says not being able to compete under the national flag because of a political dispute will not harm his performance.

“In my heart and mind, I'm competing for India,” luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told the AP in an email. “Every day, I'm flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. This is enough to push me forward.”

The Indian Olympic Association was banned in December 2012 for not adhering to its own constitution and for electing tainted officials.

Brazilian skier hurt in U.S.: The Brazilian Olympic Committee said gymnast Lais Souza, who was expected to compete in freestyle skiing in Sochi, injured her back while training in Salt Lake City.